#this time being some swelling and redness around the injection site

[loveloveguilty]

Oh yeah I also got the newest COVID booster this week and I swear every time I get a different mysterious side effect

[rizahawkeye1380]

Crossing the Webs

Chapter 1 - The Other One Inside Me

If there's something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? The Spider-Men?

“Date, September 3, 1984. Time, 4:34 PM Eastern Standard. Location, Columbia University. This is Dr. Egon Spengler performing the first documented experiment regarding the reaction of spider DNA affected by a dose of radiation with human DNA.”

He picks up the syringe, checking to make sure everything was in place; no air bubbles to be seen, the injection site was already sanitized, and the elastic band was tight enough that the vein was swelling just enough for the needle. “For the past few months, ten species of the Arachnida class were subjected to small doses of radiation. Of those ten species, five of them were exposed to a higher concentration of protonic energy, one of which is currently being used for today’s experiment. As I assumed, there are a lack of volunteers, so I will be self-experimenting with a 0.25-mL dose of Ummidia audouini ’s radioactive blood, half of the dose for the regular influenza vaccine. If I do not see a result by the two-week mark, I will attempt another test with the same condition with another 0.25-mL dose.” He slowly inserted the needle in, making sure that the blood was a darker red to indicate he had pierced the vein and loosened the elastic band a tad before gently pushing the plunger all the way. “The injection is complete and any further observations will be recorded in my notebook, thus concluding today’s recording.” He presses the stop button and disposes of the needle, wiping away the pulling spot of blood, and putting a swab of cotton over it and wrapping it tight with the ace bandage he had precut. After feeding the spiders and making sure they were safe and secured, Egon grabs his notebook and pens as he goes to another lab. He had been meaning to make a few adjustments to the PKE meter, hopefully calibrating it so that it would be able to pick up enough psychokinetic energy to detect any apparitions roaming around this world. It must have only been around half an hour when Egon started to feel a headache coming on; he tried to ignore it but the harder he tried, the more it came back harder than before. Had it only been a headache he could have soldiered on, but then he felt himself heating up…..a lot. He checked his temperature, 103°F, definitely a fever. 

As he started to head toward his shared dorm with Ray and Peter, he could feel his vision starting to blur and his clothes sticking to him because of how much he was sweating. He sat down for a moment to rest and recorded the signs and symptoms before stumbling his way onto the dorm room.

X

Ray yawned as he was cleaning up the table; Peter had gone out on a date so he had treated himself to some Chinese takeout and some television, but before he could turn it on he heard the door open. “Oh, hey Pete, how was your-?” Ray stood up straight at the sight of Egon looking feverish and sluggish. It even looked like he was sweating excessively through his clothes. “Holy shit!” Ray put a hand on Egon’s forehead and violently jerked it back. “You’re burning up a lot. Did you catch some bug in the lab?” The fact that Egon didn’t respond at all was alarming to him, he just seemed to be looking pass him. “I’ll heat up some soup. We should have some medicine to help your fever, do you need help getting changed?”

It seemed that was what seemed to snap Egon out of his stupor. “Yes….” Shit, his voice sounded like sandpaper. “Ok, don’t talk too much, can’t have you straining your throat anymore.” Egon headed to his room and carefully removed his clothing and folded them neatly on his bed. Next to his bed, a full-length mirror was mounted and while Egon rarely ever used it, the moment he laid his eyes on it, he froze. 

The first thing he noted was that there was…something that was growing in his inner forearms, and another thing beginning to form over his serratus posterior muscles. 

The second thing was how much more gaunt he was, how his ribs became so much more obvious even from a distance. 

The third and most concerning thing he noticed was how…hungry he was. Well, it wasn’t much hunger as it was that he was starving for something soft? Yes, but also smooth. Then he landed on the word; liquified. Spiders liquify their prey before consuming them…

He put on his pajamas, notably the long-sleeved ones, although it did little to hide his thin frame, and wobbled to the kitchen table where a piping hot bowl of chicken noodle was placed in front of him. He skipped the spoon and just slurped the whole thing from the bowl, coughing a bit as some of the soup went down the wrong windpipe. “Geez Egie, slow down a bit,” He stopped at the edge of the table with the two tablets for Egon’s fever, “....you didn’t eat lunch I guess?” Ray asked as he held them out for him.

He then watched as Egon silently nodded and swallowed the medicine dry before going back to his room to try to get some semblance of sleep. 

Hopefully, Egie gets well soon, never saw him this sick since that time he stayed up in the lab for three days straight…..

X

Running…that was the last thing Egon remembered doing before he woke up with a start. He looked around, he was still in his room, but it was clearly night. He looked at the clock next to him, 3:24 AM.

The medication must have knocked me out…

While he tried to go back to sleep, he couldn't stop thinking about running…but what was he running from…? He couldn't remember…or maybe he didn't want to remember…

He stared at the ceiling for a while, contemplating. Maybe the injection gave hallucinations and whatever thing was growing in his arms was just something his brain conjured up. Except… Except when he ran his fingers along his forearm it was still there, squishy like a blister, minus the searing pain he was familiar with, but then......he felt it.

He felt his flexors, pronator, and palmaris muscles shifting beneath his skin, making room for whatever that...thing was...but it didn't stop there...

The next thing that happened felt as if something was ripping under the serratus posterior muscles, yet Egon didn't feel like he was bleeding.

With each stretch, he swore he could hear his muscle fibers tearing and repairing itself as they tried to make more room.

Now suddenly everything was blurry, too blurry!

Egon wanted to scream for help but it felt like his voice was stolen away as his cheeks stretched more than humanly possible to accommodate for new protrusions that he knew were coming out from the sides of his mouth.

He laid there, tears slowly falling down his face, helpless as he faced the horrors that were flowing in his blood.

[poppy86579]

Why is the Typhoid Vaccine Important for Travellers?

Typhoid fever is a serious illness that travellers should be aware of when exploring new destinations. It is caused by bacteria found in contaminated food and water in areas with poor sanitation. When infected people do not practise proper hygiene, they can unknowingly spread the bacteria through their faeces or urine, leading to the contamination of food and water sources.

This increases the risk of contracting typhoid fever, which can have severe symptoms and complications if left untreated. Therefore, understanding the importance of the typhoid vaccine is crucial for travellers to protect themselves and enjoy a safe journey.

What Vaccines are Available for Typhoid Fever?

In the UK, two main vaccines are available: the Vi vaccine and the Ty21a vaccine.

The Vi vaccine is administered as a single injection, while the Ty21a vaccine is taken as 3 capsules on alternate days.

Combined vaccines for typhoid and hepatitis A are also available for individuals aged 15 and above.

What are Typhoid Vaccine Side Effects?

After receiving the typhoid vaccine, some people may experience-

Temporary soreness, redness, swelling, or hardness at the injection site.

About 1 in every 100 people may develop a high temperature.

Less common side effects include abdominal pain, headache, nausea, and diarrhoea.

Severe reactions are rare for both types of typhoid vaccines.

How Long Does Typhoid Vaccine Last?

The typhoid vaccine offers protection for around 3 years. This means that once you receive the vaccine, your body builds defences against typhoid fever for about 3 years. During this time, you are less likely to become infected with the bacteria that cause typhoid fever. It’s important to keep track of the duration of protection offered by the vaccine to ensure that you are adequately shielded against the disease. Regular booster doses may be necessary to maintain immunity over time.

How Long Before Travel Should You Get Typhoid Vaccine?

It is advised to get the typhoid vaccine ideally one month before travelling to areas where typhoid fever is common. However, if required, the vaccine can be given closer to the travel date. This allows your body enough time to build immunity against the bacteria that cause typhoid fever, reducing the risk of falling ill during your trip.

Advice for Travellers to Prevent Typhoid Fever

Regardless of whether you’ve received the typhoid vaccine or not, it’s essential to take simple precautions when travelling in areas where typhoid fever is prevalent.

For instance:

Only consume bottled water from properly sealed bottles or water that has been boiled recently.

Refrain from consuming ice cream and avoid adding ice to your drinks.

Do not consume uncooked fruits and vegetables unless you’ve washed them in safe water or peeled them yourself.

Avoid consuming shellfish, seafood, and salads.

Why is Typhoid Vaccine Important for Travellers?

The typhoid vaccine plays a crucial role in protecting travellers from the risk of contracting typhoid fever during their journeys. While no vaccine is 100% effective, vaccination combined with preventive measures significantly reduces the chances of infection and ensures a safer travel experience.

Get Typhoid Vaccine at Intrigue Health

Typhoid vaccine protects from the potential risks of contracting typhoid fever during journeys to areas with inadequate sanitation. By prioritising vaccination and adopting preventive measures, travellers can minimise the risk of falling ill and experiencing disruptions to their adventures.

Your well-being is important, and a small effort in vaccination and precautionary measures goes a long way in ensuring a safe and enjoyable travel experience. So, click here to book travel vaccinations in Kent, Gravesend and Dartford.

[dermalyn]

Unlocking Youthful Radiance: Exploring the Marvels of Botox Treatment

In the quest for ageless beauty and flawless skin, Botox treatment has emerged as a powerful tool in the arsenal of cosmetic procedures. With its ability to smooth wrinkles, soften fine lines, and rejuvenate the complexion, Botox has become a go-to solution for individuals seeking to turn back the hands of time. In this blog post, we'll delve into the depths of Botox treatment, uncovering its benefits, process, and why it has become a trusted choice for achieving youthful radiance.

What is Botox Treatment? Botox, short for Botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxic protein derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. When used in cosmetic treatments, Botox is injected into specific muscles to temporarily paralyze or weaken them, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines caused by repetitive facial expressions.

The Botox Process: Botox treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that is typically performed in a medical office or cosmetic clinic. Here's a step-by-step overview of what to expect during a Botox session:

Consultation: The first step in the Botox treatment process is a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider or cosmetic surgeon. During the consultation, your provider will assess your concerns, discuss your goals, and determine if Botox is the right option for you.

Treatment Plan: Based on your individual needs and desired outcomes, your provider will create a customized treatment plan that outlines the areas to be treated and the amount of Botox required.

Preparation: Before the injection, your provider may apply a topical numbing cream or ice pack to minimize discomfort during the procedure. You'll also be asked to relax your facial muscles to ensure accurate placement of the injections.

Injection: Using a fine needle, your provider will administer Botox injections into the targeted muscles. The number of injections and the amount of Botox used will depend on the areas being treated and the severity of the wrinkles.

Post-Treatment Care: After the injections, you may experience mild redness, swelling, or bruising at the injection sites, which typically resolves within a few days. Your provider may provide post-treatment instructions to help minimize discomfort and optimize results.

Benefits of Botox Treatment: Botox treatment offers a myriad of benefits for individuals seeking to rejuvenate their appearance and restore youthful radiance. Some of the key benefits include:

Smoothing Wrinkles: Botox effectively reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, particularly in areas such as the forehead, between the eyebrows (glabella lines), and around the eyes (crow's feet).

Preventing New Wrinkles: By temporarily immobilizing targeted muscles, Botox can prevent the formation of new wrinkles and delay the signs of aging.

Non-Surgical: Botox treatment is a non-surgical procedure that requires no incisions or anesthesia, making it a safe and convenient option for individuals seeking cosmetic enhancement.

Quick Results: Botox injections typically yield noticeable results within 3 to 7 days, with full effects appearing within 2 weeks. Results can last for 3 to 6 months, depending on individual factors and treatment areas.

Minimal Downtime: With no downtime required, Botox treatment allows you to resume your daily activities immediately after the procedure, making it ideal for busy lifestyles.

Botox treatment offers a safe, effective, and non-invasive solution for individuals looking to enhance their appearance and achieve youthful radiance. Whether you're seeking to smooth wrinkles, soften fine lines, or prevent the signs of aging, Botox can help you unlock a more youthful and rejuvenated version of yourself. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider or cosmetic surgeon to learn more about how Botox treatment can help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

[beglobal001]

All about Skin Treatment

some common causes of wrinkling skin:

1.Sun exposure: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is one of the primary external factors that contribute to premature skin aging. Prolonged and unprotected exposure to the sun’s rays can damage the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin, leading to the development of wrinkles, age spots, and leathery texture.

2.Smoking: Smoking cigarettes can accelerate the aging process of the skin. The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage collagen and elastin fibers, decrease blood flow to the skin, and restrict oxygen and nutrient supply to skin cells. This can result in premature wrinkling, particularly around the mouth and eyes.

3.Facial expressions and repetitive movements: Repeated facial expressions and muscle movements, such as squinting, frowning, or smiling, can lead to the formation of dynamic wrinkles. Over time, these wrinkles can become more prominent and eventually turn into permanent lines.

These can treated by some treatment like:

Botox treatment

2.Dermal fillers

what is botox treatment?

Botox treatment, also known as botulinum toxin therapy, is a cosmetic procedure that involves the injection of a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin into specific muscles of the face or body. Botox is the brand name for a purified form of the botulinum toxin, and it is widely used for various medical and cosmetic purposes.

Botox injections usually begin working 1 to 3 days after treatment, though it can take a week or more to see full results. Not all people have visible results or relief from symptoms.

Depending on the problem being treated, the effect may last 3 to 4 months. To maintain the effect, you’ll likely need regular follow-up injections spaced at least three months apart

Why it’s done:

Botox shots block certain chemical signals from nerves that cause muscles to contract. The most common use of these injections is to relax the facial muscles that cause frown lines and other facial wrinkles.

Botox injections also are used to ease symptoms of some health conditions. It’s not a cure

Neck spasms

ther muscle spasms.

Lazy eye.

It is important to note that Botox should only be administered by qualified professionals, as improper injections can lead to unwanted side effects or complications. Common side effects may include temporary bruising, swelling, or redness at the injection site. Rarely, more serious side effects can occur, such as drooping of the eyelids or eyebrows, asymmetry, or difficulty swallowing or breathing. Therefore, it’s crucial to consult with a medical professional before considering Botox treatment to ensure it is appropriate for you and to discuss potential risks and benefits. Botox treatment in bangalore is best for it.

What is Dermal fillers ?

Dermal fillers, also known as soft tissue fillers, are substances injected into the skin to restore volume, smoothen out wrinkles, and enhance facial contours. They are primarily used in cosmetic procedures to address signs of aging or to improve specific facial features.

Dermal fillers are typically made of different materials, such as hyaluronic acid, collagen, calcium hydroxylapatite, or poly-L-lactic acid. The choice of filler depends on the desired outcome, the area being treated, and the individual’s preferences. Hyaluronic acid-based fillers are the most commonly used due to their safety and effectiveness.

Why are dermal fillers used?

Add volume to sagging skin.

Make your facial features more symmetrical.

Plump up lips and cheeks.

Smooth wrinkles and creases in your face.

Many people see results of dermal fillers right away. The injections usually take less than an hour, and you can get them right in your healthcare provider’s office. Because it’s a nonsurgical treatment, recovery time is minimal.Depending on the type of filler, results can last months or even years. Some fillers work for more than two years. Dermal fillers are also typically less expensive than elective surgical procedures.

It’s essential to consult with a qualified medical professional or dermatologist who can assess your individual needs, discuss potential risks and benefits, and determine the most appropriate type and amount of filler for your desired outcome. Dermal fillers in bangalore can be the best choice for it.

[jeyashreeramasamy]

Benefits of Botox in Plano, TX: Smooth Away Wrinkles

Introduction

Botox has gained immense popularity as a non-surgical cosmetic treatment that offers remarkable benefits in reducing the signs of ageing. You're in luck if you are considering Botox in Plano, TX.

MD Laser Med Spa, the leading med spa in Plano, TX, offering exceptional Botox treatments focusing on delivering natural-looking results. Let's explore the incredible benefits of Botox and how it can help you achieve youthful radiance.

Benefits of Botox

Botox in Plano, TX

1. Smoother and Youthful Appearance

One of the primary benefits of Botox is its ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, providing a smoother and more youthful look. Botox targets the underlying muscles responsible for dynamic wrinkles, such as crow's feet and forehead lines. By relaxing these muscles, Botox smooths out the skin, resulting in a more refreshed and rejuvenated appearance.

2. Non-Invasive and Quick Procedure

Unlike surgical procedures, Botox is a non-invasive treatment that requires no incisions or extensive recovery periods. The injections are quick, usually taking around 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the areas being treated. Patients can resume their regular activities immediately after the procedure, making Botox a convenient option for those with busy schedules.

3. Long-Lasting Results

Although Botox is not a permanent solution, it offers long-lasting results. The effects of Botox typically last between three to six months. Over time, the muscles gradually regain their function, and wrinkles may reappear. However, with regular maintenance treatments, the longevity of the results can be extended, allowing you to enjoy a consistently youthful and vibrant appearance.

4. Versatility in Treatment Areas

Botox is not limited to treating facial wrinkles. It is a versatile treatment that can address various concerns. In addition to reducing fine lines and wrinkles, Botox can also be used to:

Soften the appearance of vertical lip lines.

Lift the corners of the mouth.

Diminish the appearance of chin dimples.

Reduce neck bands and lines.

Minimize excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).

Relieve migraines and tension headaches.

This versatility makes Botox a valuable option for individuals seeking comprehensive facial rejuvenation and relief from other medical conditions.

5. Boost in Self-Confidence

The visible results of Botox can have a significant impact on an individual's self-confidence and overall well-being. When you look good, you feel good. The smoother and more youthful appearance achieved through Botox can enhance your self-image and boost your confidence in social and professional settings. Embracing your rejuvenated appearance can lead to a more positive outlook and improved quality of life.

6. Minimal Discomfort and Downtime

Botox injections are generally well-tolerated by patients. The needles used for Botox are very fine, causing minimal discomfort during the procedure. Some individuals may experience mild redness or swelling at the injection sites, but these effects are temporary and typically resolve quickly.

As for downtime, there is usually no significant recovery period after Botox. Patients can immediately resume their normal activities after the treatment. However, it's advisable to avoid strenuous exercise and excessive heat exposure for a short period to optimize the results.

7. Expertise at MD Laser Med Spa

To ensure optimal results and safety, it's crucial to choose a reputable medspa for your Botox treatment. MD Laser Med Spa in Plano, TX, stands out as the premier destination for Botox. Their team of experienced medical professionals specializes in facial aesthetics and has a deep understanding of Botox injections. They utilize their expertise to customize the treatment to your unique needs, ensuring natural-looking results that enhance your features.

Conclusion

MD Laser Med Spa is the best medspa to get Botox in Plano, TX, as they are performed by highly skilled medical professionals who have extensive experience in administering cosmetic injections. Medspa's team includes certified and licensed practitioners who specialize in medical aesthetics.

They stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field and are well-versed in Botox injections. Please don't worry- you will be in capable hands throughout your treatment.

[moremoneytips]

Keep Skin Looking Young With These Helpful Tips

New Post has been published on https://innersoulhealthandbeautyreviews.com/keep-skin-looking-young-with-these-helpful-tips-10/

Keep Skin Looking Young With These Helpful Tips

Your skin, although you might not believe it, is an organ. Like any other organ you should always strive to have a healthy one. Healthy skin is not only good for your self-esteem but also for your personal well-being. If you are serious about giving your skin the care it deserves then read on below for great hints and tips.

If you wear glasses or sunglasses a lot, make sure you keep them clean. If not the oils from your skin can build up on them. Then when you wear them, that oil gets back onto your skin. If you don’t keep them clean you’ll constantly be building up oils on your skin which will result in acne around that area.

Tanning is something that you should try to avoid at all costs if you can. When you tan, artificial light rays can hurt your skin surface and create blemishes from the irritation and dryness that you will feel. Tanning can also permanently damage your pores, creating visible marks on your face.

If your skin is oily, sensitive, or prone to breakouts, do away with bar soaps and bar cleansers. Instead, look for cleansers that are dispensed in pump or spray bottles. The moist, exposed surface of bar soaps, combined with the humidity of an enclosed bathroom, encourages the growth of acne-causing bacteria.

If you want to add nutrients to your skin, then use a facial serum over a moisturizer because a serum allows nutrients to get deeper into the layers of skin. If you use a moisturizer, it does not penetrate as deeply as serums can, but is designed to add moisture to hydrate your skin.

Before going to sleep, clean up your face from any trace of make-up. Apply a moisturizer a few hours before going to bed so that it has time to penetrate your skin and will not clog your pores while you rest on your pillow. Apply lip balm and hand cream before going to bed.

Here are a few great techniques to reduce the symptoms of eczema. Avoid anything, like lotion or laundry detergents, that contains perfume. Wear clothing that is made of cotton. Wool and synthetic fabrics sometimes cause a bad reaction with eczema. Third, use natural makeup that is free of dyes. Prevent irritated skin and flare-ups by integrating these tips into your skin care routine.

If you are prone to redness on your face when out in the sun or heat, keep your sunscreen and facial moisturizer in a cooler. The cooler products against your skin will help constrict the blood vessels. This in turn will reduce blood flow to the face and make you look less red.

Before you’re thinking about getting Botox, make sure you read up further on the procedure and the possible side effects. Botox only lasts for about six months and so do the side effects if you’re experiencing them. Some unkind side effects of Botox may be: nausea, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, eyelid and forehead drooping and swelling at the site of injection, with mild bleeding.

That’s it, it is that simple. Knowledge is the first step towards achieving the goal of taking care of yourself. Everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin. The advice you have just read will give you not only beautiful skin, but more importantly, healthy skin as well. Good luck!

[mochi-ficz]

this isn't my normal type of content, but i would like to take a minute to talk about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine i received today, and share some info that might help you decide to sign up!

first up, it's socially and morally responsible. despite all forms of the vaccine being newer and unapproved, it's still important to get it. you'll be helping assist researchers in the field who document side effects and you'll be protecting others as well as yourself.

second, it didn't hurt as bad as you'd imagine! i'm personally very scared of needles and injections, but the nurse was nice and held my hand while she injected me, and had another nurse come hold me gently by the shoulders (she also rubbed my back, they were very patient with me) since i started accidentally flinching away. i can promise you that i felt it go in (it didn't hurt bad at all, the needle doesn't go very far under the skin), and pretty much right when i began to panic and feel it, it was out. it was a very speedy vaccine, and hurt even less than my flu vaccine i received last august! they had stretchers and wheelchairs and ambulances on site, ready for anyone who could possibly have a reaction, and even for those that did start to have a reaction, they were calmly walked out by some students who volunteered to help, and then taken outside to be taken to the hospital where they could be treated. nobody i saw today passed out, nobody felt dizzy, nothing. my site had you wait 15 minutes or more after you get the vaccine just to make sure you didn't feel dizzy, and if you felt off, you could wave a hand, and one of the nurses standing by would be there to assist you asap. i didn't really feel any pain at first? i recommend taking tylenol before you get injected, though. it always helps to have it in your system to dull the pain of the injection before you get it. my arm felt heavy, almost? but there was definitely no pain. even now, almost 12 hours later, i still feel very little pain, albeit now it has had time to begin swelling, so pain is very much normal.

now to talk about side effects. for the Moderna, in specific, the normal reactions will last up to 14 days. some normal reactions at the site of the injection include: redness, swelling or hardness, warmth to the touch, pain, swelling of lymph nodes on the same arm. the other reactions, not at the site, can include: fatigue, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, muscle pains, joint pains, and fever. these are all very normal symptoms for just about any vaccine. (the heaviness i mentioned earlier is also normal, don't worry) if you feel any bad side effects that don't come on your info packet, please contact the people working at the site or your doctor, and they can help you out.

what is a vaccine? a vaccine is a significantly weakened version of the virus you want to avoid. it is not a dead version, that's just a myth, a dead version wouldn't work.

how do vaccines work? as previously mentioned, the weakened virus is injected into your body. the purpose of this is not to get you sick, but to spark your immune system to build a defense against it. your body has memory cells that will remember what the virus was beginning to do to your body, and will remember how it handled it, so when a stronger version of the same virus (your second dose of your vaccine or the actual virus you get from someone else) comes into your body, it already knows what to do.

how long do memory cells last? most memory cells will last forever! sometimes you need to get a new vaccine though, like the flu one, you may need to go back and get it again.

why do you get two doses of the vaccine? the covid-19 vaccine probably comes in two doses because of how strong the virus can be. the first one will help get your body started, and the second one will make your body's response stronger.

do i still have to wear a mask? PLEASE for the love of god continue to wear your mask. just because you get a vaccine does NOT make you immune to it completely, a vaccine only helps protect you from getting it, it doesn't stop it entirely. you can also still be a carrier for the virus and just not get sick, but you can get others sick. it is EXTREMELY irresponsible to not wear a mask after getting the vaccine. i don't care what your beliefs on it are, wearing a mask has been scientifically proven time and time again to slow the spread of disease and decrease the risk of getting it to begin with. you still need to wear a mask, wash your hands, and sanitize your things.

if you needed a sign to get the vaccine, this is your sign! i understand that you may be nervous, but you are doing a good thing, not just for yourself, but for the people around you. please do your best to try and sign up to receive it if it's available where you are.

[perfectbouquetglitter]

DOUBLE CHIN CORRECTION / Kybella -Sherwani Dental Associates | Skin whitening

What is Kybella?

For double chin correction we offer Deoxycholic acid injections that are commonly referred to as Kybella. These are not just FDA-approved but provide dramatic results non-surgically and help in enhancing the appearance of chin area and helps in reducing the skin fullness in sub mental region of the face.

Alternative treatment modalities available to this are liposuction and surgical intervention. However, through Kybella injections no anesthesia is required, there is no or very less downtime after the treatment and relatively visible affects are achieved after 3-4 sessions in most cases.

Who should get Kybella?

The treatment can be given Sherwani Dental Associates | Skin whitening to any individual of 18 years or above; but it should be avoided in cases like pregnancy, nursing mothers and patients suffering from an infection near the injection site. It should also be avoided by individuals who have some underlying disease or medical condition that can affect the efficacy of treatment.

Precautions for the Treatment

Although there is no special preparation required for the treatment as it is non-surgical. However, the treatment should not be scheduled right before a public event or gathering for the patient. The patient should wash the face and neck region before the treatment to ensure no foreign particles like dust can cause infection at the injection site. Along with that, random medicines like pain killers or antibiotics should be avoided after the treatment to avoid bruising or inflammation after the treatment.

How does Kybella work?

The bile being produced in the gall bladder contains Deoxycholic acid that assists the body in absorbing fat. Kybella is the synthetic form of this naturally occurring acid, and it destroys the fat cells beneath the injection site. When the fat cells are destroyed, they are unable to store fat, thus the skin starts getting thinner.

Our consultant at Sherwani Dental & Skin Clinic will mark the injection site/sites and apply anesthetic gel on the skin over injection sites. Once the skin is effectively numb, injections are administered. It takes a few days to some weeks for the acid to metabolize the cells inside the skin, and show the desired results.

The benefit around this treatment is that it completely metabolizes the fat cells in the sub-mental region, and no fat storage can occur again in the absence of fat cells after all the sessions completed. The best results are observed after 3-4 weeks of the first injection.

In most cases 2-3 sessions are sufficient and the maximum of 6 sessions are suggested if the sub-mental fat is more and the desired results are being achieved. The total duration of treatment may reach till 6 months, and after that no treatment is required, as all the fat cells would be effectively metabolized.

Side effects of the Kybella Treatment:

Short-term side effects that fade away with time include the following:

Numbness on the injection site

Flare / Redness

Inflammation/ Swelling

Irritation and itching

Nausea and headache

Hardness of skin at the injection site

Bruising

Major side effects that need you to visit your consultant again include:

Change in smile or face orientation

Ulcers on the skin

necrosis/damage on the skin

loss of hair at injection site

Facial muscle weakness

Continuous bleeding on the skin

difficulty in swallowing food

[xixxvxx]

first testosterone injection

in this post i’ll explain in (probably excessive) detail what my first shot was like. i had a lot of nerves about doing it, as everyone does, but i found that reading other people’s accounts and advice on the matter beforehand helped ease some of my anxiety. i wanted to share my experience, that my doing so might help someone else in turn!

before proceeding, please keep in mind that i am not a medical professional in any capacity, and this is not formal medical advice! i am just recounting my personal experience for anyone who might be curious about what it’s like. if you’re planning on injecting yourself, don’t take my word here as guidance—your doctor should be able to walk you through the process step by step in person, and additionally provide you with take-home resources which will explain how to do your shot, so stick to those instead.

in-depth talk of needles and injection under the cut.

my first shot was a fairly standard starting dose of 0.3 mL testosterone cypionate. my injections are subcutaneous, so they go into the layer of fat between my skin and my muscle. the needles for this are 25 gauge and 5/8 of an inch long— relatively short and thin. (if you don’t have a reference for what that looks like in real life, a 25g needle is about as thick as a small sewing needle, though obviously much sharper, and at 5/8” it’s about the length of your thumbnail.)

my prescription includes the previously mentioned 25g x 5/8” needles for subcutaneous injection pre-attached to syringes, as well as individual 18g x 1” needles for drawing up the testosterone. when i draw my dose, i swap out the original subcutaneous needle for the drawing needle, draw the testosterone, dispose of the drawing needle, and replace it with the subcutaneous needle. (i can explain the drawing process in more detail if anyone wants to know more about it.) your needle and syringe configuration might be a little different depending on your prescription and your pharmacy’s available stock, and the process of drawing might take one step more or fewer depending on that.

i was told that for subcutaneous injection i could pick a site on the fatty part of either one my thighs or my belly. i decided to use my belly, since i found it a little easier to pinch the flesh there. here are the steps i took to inject myself, from start to finish:

with my NP’s supervision i located an injection spot about an inch to my right of my navel.

i cleaned a 2” circle around this spot with an alcohol wipe for 10 seconds, then let the area dry for another 20 seconds. (i’ve heard that it can sting if you inject before the alcohol has time to dry.)

using my non-dominant hand i pinched a thin fold of my skin from that area in my fingers, pulling it away from my abdomen slightly.

in my dominant hand i held the needle like a dart—i grasped the end closer to the tip with my thumb and middle/ring/pinky fingers, and kept my pointer finger resting on plunger. (i found that you don’t really need to worry about accidentally pushing the plunger too soon here—the testosterone is thick and requires some effort to push out.)

after lining the needle up to the fold of skin at a roughly 45º angle to the right, i pushed the needle through my skin in one firm, quick motion. (this sounds scary, but it was easier than i thought it’d be—more on that later.)

once the needle was fully in my skin i pushed down on the plunger with my pointer finger, being careful to keep my hand as steady as possible so as not to wiggle the needle.

after all the testosterone was injected i pulled the needle out fully before letting go of my skin.

finally i re-capped the needle and disposed of it in the sharps container.

here are my personal observations of my injection experience:

i knew that i would only get more anxious about the shot the longer i waited, so when the time came to actually inject myself, i took a deep breath, did a quick 3-2-1 countdown in my head, and pushed the needle in very quickly before i could really think about it.

i was surprised and pleased to find that my shot did not hurt! i was terribly nervous about it beforehand, but it was virtually painless—in fact, i don’t even know that i would describe it as uncomfortable. i did feel the needle enter my skin, but it was just the mildest tugging/pricking sensation. there was no resistance—the needle slid in easily and fully in under a second. i’d heard people describe their shots as mild or painless before, and had trouble believing it before i tried it, but seriously, i barely felt it. the hardest part of the whole experience was pushing down on the plunger, because, again, the testosterone is a viscous liquid and comes out a little slowly. other than that the experience was a cakewalk.

when i pulled the needle out of my skin a small drop of testosterone leaked out behind it, along with just the tiniest pinprick of blood. the bleeding was so minor that i didn’t really need a band-aid, but i put one on just in case.

as the day continued i felt no discomfort around the injection site. when i removed the band-aid i saw that no more blood had leaked out. i could just barely see the itty bitty red dot where i injected myself, and though my NP told me mild bruising or swelling is common after an injection, i experienced neither.

all in all it was a quicker, simpler, and far less painful experience that i had anticipated it would be!

[cdpink25-blog]

Vivo center Birmingham Reviews

genital tightening Up frequently Asked Question.

Content

Cellulite: What causes Cellulite as Well As exactly How To remove The feared Orange Peel

exactly How Hifu functions.

What Are The conveniences Of A Facelift?

What Is Hifu Treatment For Body

What Can I expect After A Facelift?

The marks will typically be red at first, then purple, and afterwards fade to become paler over 12 to 18 months. Periodically, marks might become broader, thicker, red or agonizing, as well as you might need to have surgical treatment to fix them. If the marks stretch, they can develop a bald strip of hair in the hairline, however this is not usually obvious. Excess skin is then eliminated, and the staying skin is sewn into placement.

At Illuminate we use CoolSculpting for all fat freezing treatments. CoolSculpting is an entirely non-invasive treatment that freezes away undesirable fat, aiding to contour your body as well as provide you the figure that you want. The therapy is embarked on in clinic with the individual either sitting or lying down. A CoolSculpting applicator is connected to the location of the body being dealt with to ice up away the unwanted fat cells, delivering long-term results.

Your bandages are usually chased regarding one or two days. After the procedure there is generally some swelling, bruising as well as pain.

Cellulite: What creates Cellulite and just How To get Rid Of The dreadful Orange Peel

You will certainly need to avoid showering and also obtaining the plasters damp for the initial 2 days, as well as stay clear of arduous activity, saunas and also massages for a minimum of 2 weeks. It generally takes 2 to 3 hrs, and also the majority of people require to remain in hospital overnight.

How often should you Cryo?

You can get benefits from just one session of cryotherapy, but it's most effective when used regularly. Some athletes use cryotherapy twice a day. Others will go daily for 10 days and then once a month afterwards.

The indicators of an infection are pain, inflammation, swelling and also pus in the injury, as well as you might likewise have a temperature. The scars in the hairline do not generally reveal, but the hair will certainly have been cut much shorter quickly around the wound.

Any type of info sent by means of this web site, will be sent out firmly making use of industry typical secure connections as well as secured and refined according to the needs of the Data Protection Act 1998, as modified once in a while. Required some guidance on a treatment price or reserving a first consultation. You can rest assured that you are in the best of hands for your facelift at Ramsay Health Care, from your first appointment via to recuperation. why not look here are injected into your skin to recover lost volume and also smooth out lines as well as wrinkles. When you prepare to go home we'll offer you advice concerning recouping in your home as well as arrange a follow-up consultation. If you have any kind of fears, you can talk to a member of our medical cosmetic team, day or evening. We also offer a variety of money alternatives to pay for your surgical procedure, including 0% Financing.

exactly How Hifu works.

There may be some slight reduction in hair growth in the holy places, however this is not generally a trouble unless the hair is extremely slim and also several renovations are executed. You might have drainage tubes in your face or neck to recede any type of fluid or blood. These tubes will certainly be taken out when the liquid or blood has actually stopped draining pipes, usually prior to you go house. Cardiac arrest or stroke A heart attack or stroke might be brought on by the pressure surgery places on your heart.

What Are The conveniences Of A Facelift?

What Is Hifu Treatment For Body

The term 'Awesome sculpt' comes from the treatment, which uses cryolipolysis modern technology to shape the body, offering inch loss. This machine is made for medical aesthetic fat decrease treatments by applying sub no temperature levels in a regulated fashion into fat cells, for a prolonged period of time.

Please get in touch with one of our Client Service Advisors or call or discuss your financial choices with among our nurses during your assessment at your neighborhood clinic. You will have your very own individual Registered nurse Counsellor both prior to as well as after your procedure to sustain you and also answer any inquiries you might have. It is advisable to reside your head propped up in the early days as well as avoid bending, raising or abrupt movements of the head. You will certainly be encouraged on when you can wash your hair and this will certainly help to make the elimination of the stitches easier. Although compose can be made use of, it must be well away from the stitches. If you are a cigarette smoker, or take aspirin or any kind of other medicine, your Cosmetic Surgeon will desire to review this with you at your consultation.

We are performing necessary maintenance to our interior booking systems. For information on a procedure, rate enquiry as well as consultation details please full our on the internet query type as well as we will certainly return to you asap. Individuals usually leave the clinic 24-hour after the treatment; however this will depend upon your development and on the surgeon's recommendation. In the very first couple of days after the intervention, it is suggested to sleep on two cushions in order to lower the swelling and to avoid drinking warm drinks or eating excessive, so that the stitches are not impacted. The swelling as well as haematomas will go away over the initial couple of days. If you have any kind of worries after your procedure, talk to a physician or most likely to A&E. Hemorrhaging after surgery can create swelling, a change in colour, and discomfort, generally just on one side.

What Can I anticipate After A Facelift?

Your anaesthetist will certainly recommend medicines for the very first few days after the procedure. Struggling with pain can decrease your healing, so please review any pain with your physicians or nurses.

Today in the UK most guys that are identified with early-stage prostate cancer cells have to select in between a dangerous surgical intervention, Radiotherapy together with Brachytherapy, no therapy in any way, or merely monitoring the illness.

is non-invasive skin tightening and lifting system of the dermis, subcutaneous layer, as well as shallow aponeurotic system.

While i assume the treatment has actually assisted, its still a little prematurely to say just how much.

My skin really feels tighter and looks better, simply wish to see for how long the effects last.

They weren't pushy and answered all my questions and also assisted me make a decision whether to proceed with the treatment sessions.

HIFU is a non-invasive treatment that targets skin tightening as well as fat decrease via application of power to the skin and also underlying cells.

I did look around and also the offer on currently is great worth below.

The regulated air conditioning science is kept for a time in between mins after that the fat cells starts a procedure of natural elimination over a duration of weeks working through the lymphatic system. An amazing, scientific proven modern technology that will certainly deliver amazing results after one therapy.

Recovery issues The edges of the injuries can come apart, especially at the ends of the mark. Usually this problem is resolved by clothing the injuries, however you may need further surgery to remove the tissue that hasn't recovered effectively. Marks There will certainly be marks from the surgical treatment, yet the majority of these will certainly be concealed in the hairline.

Hereafter, you will certainly be required to your room or comfortable area where you can rest and recuperate up until we feel you're ready to go house. After surgery you will be taken from the operating theatre to a recuperation space, where you will certainly come round from anaesthesia under close guidance. Our faces can look older than our body and minds in fact feel. Given that our face states so much about our individuality, this mismatch can effect on our self-confidence, create irritation and also impact our self-esteem. Ramsay Health Care was developed in 1964 and also has grown to come to be an international health center group operating 480 facilities throughout 11 countries, making it among the largest and also most diverse exclusive medical care firms on the planet. Get in touch with your local Ramsay medical facility to reserve a visit or to learn more.

We're The Uk's the Majority Of trusted weight Reduction & cosmetic Surgery service Provider.

Why is cryotherapy so expensive?

What makes cryotherapy so expensive is the cost of the chamber and liquid nitrogen costs. Added to this is the rental cost of the liquid nitrogen tank and the liquid nitrogen itself. Small business owners also have the added cost of payroll for their employees and the building lease.

You will be assessed for the risk of this before your surgical treatment. Allergic reaction Rarely, allergic reactions to tape, stitches or remedies have been reported. If you have an allergic reaction you may need extra treatment. Extrusion This is where deep stitches poke out via the skin.

Your Plastic surgeon will recommend you when you are to cease and/or return to these activities. View our Facelift procedure video clip to see Before as well as After photos and also listen to an individual's story. Spread the expense of treatment with a 10 month passion complimentary individual clinical funding. If you have problems about your care, you should contact the CQC. You ought to speak to the center where the procedure was performed as soon as possible if you have serious pain or any kind of unexpected symptoms. Cosmetic surgery can in some cases go wrong as well as the results might not be what you expected. The specialist should discuss how most likely these dangers as well as complications are, as well as just how they would certainly be treated if they happened.

evaluation assessment.

While Mother earth unavoidably begins the ageing process once again, years later on you will certainly still be looking more youthful than you would have if you hadn't had that facelift. At first your face will look a little puffy and numb as well as might really feel a little bit odd and also rigid however this ought to be short-term.

How many calories do you burn in a cryo session?

One bout of Whole Body Cryotherapy has been shown to burn between 500 and 800 calories. That's a lot of calories that get burned for standing in a tube for 3 minutes! That many calories is equivalent to running for 40-60 minutes at a 10 minute mile pace.

Treatment may be covered by clinical insurance coverage and self pay plans are readily available on demand. Ramsay is dedicated to safeguarding the safety and security of your individual details.

[drdixitcosmetic]

Dermal Fillers Providing An Alternative to Going Under the Knife

Dermal fillers have emerged as a revolutionary skincare procedure today, providing quick results and a Dermal filler procedures can reverse age lines, correct fine lines, provide support to the sagging tissues of the skin t a fraction of what a traditional facelift would cost., perfect a lip pout or volumize the sunken under-eye area, and many more. Dermal fillers are becoming increasingly common and affordable, and more importantly, they offer the comfort of a non-surgical correction. With increasing age, the loss of facial fat and collagen results in wrinkles and fine lines formation, hollowness under the eyes, and smile line formation around the mouth.

The signs of aging due to volume loss can be corrected with the help of dermal fillers. This trending dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle treatments have overtaken the other surgical treatments like facelift, due to the procedure being quick and having lesser complications as well. Dermal fillers can also be used over other parts of the body like hands, and neck to provide anti-aging benefits. Dr. Rasya Dixit, one of the best skin specialist in Bangalore, with over 10 years of experience in the field of cosmetic dermatology, provides this skin rejuvenation anti-aging dermal filler treatment. She provides this treatment with precision and proper care and helps the patient to achieve best results.

The procedure is a lot quicker and painless than a surgical procedure such as a facelift. It can last as long as one year, providing a youthful, more voluminous, fuller look to the individual. The second application of dermal fillers is in augmentation, primarily by younger people who desire higher cheekbones and fuller lips, and fillers also help provide proper hydration, definition, and volume. Primarily made up of hyaluronic acid, a normal component of all human skin, the molecules have the capacity to hold water molecules and hydrate the skin, and different strengths of dermal fillers are used for different areas of the skin to be treated. The fillers were used initially to fill lines around the mouth area, but are now being used for a variety of other purposes like lifting the cheeks, contour the face, create strong jawline and augment the lips.

Popularly called the “Liquid Face Lift,” due to providing results much like a regular facelift, only without going under the knife. Derma fillers have gained huge popularity amongst both the ordinary individuals seeking to regain their youthful looks and the celebrities looking to get that perfect contour and unrivaled looks. Dr. Dixit Cosmetic Dermatology provides the best dermal filler treatment in Bangalore under expert supervision with care and caution, to ensure that there are no side-effects and the results are optimum.

While surgical procedures like facelifts can also provide the same results, dermal fillers are still preferred by people due to instant and natural results. The results of fillers can last for anywhere between 8 months to 1.5 years, depending on daily lifestyle habits, and consulting a dermatologist can help maintain these fillers for a longer period. Also, since the dermal fillers are now made available with premixed anesthetic agents, the treatment is relatively painless.

However, one can still request the dermatologist to provide numbing cream for added comfort. Some research even shows that repeated injections of these may even help stimulate the body’s natural production of collagen and help reduce the number of lines and wrinkles.

The side effects are also rare but include redness, bruising, and swelling at the site of injection, and these problems often improve over time. For consultation and to know more about dermal fillers cost in Bangalore, visit Dr. Dixit Cosmetic Dermatology today, and regain the lost youthful glow and texture of the skin!

Source: http://drdixitcosmeticdermatology.mystrikingly.com/blog/dermal-fillers-providing-an-alternative-to-going-under-the-knife

[christophesd-blog]

Buy Surface Paris Online

Are you under the belief that you need botox for eye wrinkles? Has someone got you convinced that the only way to rid yourself of eye wrinkles is to have an injection which will freeze the muscles & nerves in your face? Well, believe it or not, that is not the best option to get rid of wrinkles -- in fact, it's the worst option when it comes to wrinkle removal for the eyes.

Contrary to what you may have thought, the best type of eye wrinkle remover is that of under eye wrinkle cream. Such a cream can not only address the causes of wrinkle formation around the eyes, but it can ensure that wrinkles never form around your eyes again! Here are 3 simple reasons why anti wrinkle eye cream is better than botox for eye wrinkles...

1. Less Costly

A good under eye wrinkle cream will cost, at most, about $100. Some effective eye creams can even be found for as little as $30-$40. Compare that cost to the cost of botox (upwards of $600 PER injection!) and it's really a no-brainer.

2. Longer Lasting

The effects of botox can last awhile, but not nearly long enough to justify that outrageous expense. Wrinkle eye cream, on the other hand, continues to last as long as you keep using it on a regular basis. Considering that eye cream can provide results just as quickly as botox for eye wrinkles, and that it typically lasts twice as long, it's clear why eye cream is the better choice.

3. No Side Effects

Botox injections can come with the following side-effects (which may last for months): headache, respiratory infection, flu-like symptoms, droopy eyelids, nausea, redness at the injection site, and muscle weakness. In addition, the long term effects of botox are, as of yet, UNKNOWN!

Do you know how many side-effects come Buy Surface Paris Online  with using an anti wrinkle eye cream? NONE! The only chance of suffering from side-effects is if you're allergic to the ingredients and forget to check the label. Worst case scenario when using eye cream: you suffer a slight irritation and a bit of redness for a few hours. Which group of side-effects do you think sounds more pleasant to deal with? Botox is produced from the botulism toxin and is injected beneath the skin in order to smooth wrinkles on the face. Low does of Botox are administered, which paralyzes facial muscles, giving the patient a smooth facial appearance. Over the past few years, Botox has gained popularity because it is less invasive than a face lift and the results are immediate, instead of having to deal with severe pain and swelling, as well as bandages and stitches for several weeks, which are side effects of a face lift. Swelling produced by Botox is usually over within a day or two. The needle prick remains visible during the first 24 hours, however, there are no lasting side effects which hint at a Botox injection.

Botox is also much cheaper and more affordable than a traditional face lift, in addition to being much quicker. Because of its affordability, many people have hosted Botox parties in which several people are administered their Botox treatments within a few hours of each other. As it takes such a small amount of time to administer, the patient is even able to receive treatments during a lunch hour. It should also be mentioned that Botox is temporary, so if the patient does not care for her appearance after treatment, she can simply never receive another treatment and her face will return to normal in any where from three to six months.

There are also risks associated with Botox, including allergic reactions. These cases are very rare, but have happened. Some Botox injections cause the patient to appear with a constant frown, or silly smile. However, because it is a temporary treatment, these inconveniences aren't permanent. It should also be mentioned that if the patient is currently taking antibiotics, they should forgo Botox injections until the antibiotic treatment is complete because of the chance of an adverse reaction.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Mutilated Mannequin (Part 8)

Azula wishes that she would have had the lip injections done first. They are much simpler, more manageable. She is fully awake, and thankful that she won’t have to deal with the groggy after effects of full anesthesia. Instead she is given an initial injection that numbs her mouth.

She is still somewhat nervous, she has seen some rather unsavory before and after images. But Dr. Guhira makes small talk that keeps her mind from wandering too far. She is under the impression that he can sense trepidation. He has probably performed enough operations to know how to spot it. 

She tells him about homecoming and about how his work has been good enough to earn her a date. 

He laughs, “you give me too much credit, Azula. You have a personality that leaves an impression, take that into account.” 

Azula musters a half smile. 

She sees the needle and thinks of the picture of the former model whose lips looked cartoonishly swollen, as though she was attacked by a swarm of bees. Her smile fades. She pulls up the image on her phone. “How does this happen?”

“Malpractice.” Dr. Guhira says simply. “The use of cheap or shady injection material. I will be using hyaluronic acid fillers. They are safer than the older methods, that they last longer and come with less side effects.”

 Azula shudders at the name, “acid?”

“Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the body. It can be used to treat burns.” Dr. Guhira explains. “It isn’t as intimidating as it sounds.” 

She decides to take his word for it, though she still has no love for needles. 

It does help to have her father in the room for once. She wonders if it is a reward for showing up without protest. He doesn’t speak much but his presence alone is somehow a comfort.

“This is going to be very quick.” Dr. Guhira notes as he marks the places where he will make the injections. “The healing process will also be quicker; a few days at most.” 

She watches him discard a used needle and unbox a new one. At least the man knows what he’s doing. He puts a pair of latex gloves on and steps forward again. “There will be some similarities.” He pauses. “Some swelling and some possible bleeding at the injection sites. Nothing to be alarmed over. Just keep the area clean and watch out for infection. There might be some redness around the area. The worst of it will be a few cold soars.” 

It sounds much less tedious and much less painful, again she wonders why she hadn’t started with the lip augmentation. 

“Of course there are some rarer side effects. Most commonly is an allergic reaction. It is also possible that the swelling can last for a week or so.” 

“Don’t scare her out of this.” Ozai grumbles. 

“I’d like to know what I’m in for, father.” 

“Do your research after the injections.” 

She wants to tell him that most people do their research before having a procedure done. 

“I’ve already looked it up for myself, you have nothing to worry about. The more serious risks are the result of unprofessional mistakes. Dr. Guhira is an esteemed surgone. You have nothing to worry about.” 

Azula nods.

“Please hold still.” Guhira instructs. 

The needle pricks her lips in several spots, its bite is mercifully dulled by the numbing agent. She only flinches once. After the first injection it is only a discomfort. “You’re all set. This process comes with immediate gratification, you’ll notice the difference right away.” 

This throws Azula off, with her nose she had time to prepare and ease herself into the prospect of looking different. She shifts uncomfortably, apparently this one will come like a punch to the gut. 

“Aftercare is going to be easier as well.” Dr. Guhira notes. “Just avoid lipstick and putting pressure on your lips. I recommend using an icepack, that will help with the swelling.”

“I think that I can handle that.” Azula replies. “Will they feel fake.” 

Dr. Guhira shakes is head. “Unless you have an allergic reaction they should feel very natural.” 

Azula gathers her phone and her purse and stands. 

“Thank you, Dr. Guhira, you’re work is always impressive.” Ozai extends his hand.

The doctor returns the gesture with a firm shake. “Of course, Mr. Kasai, it is always a pleasure.” And to Azula he says, “enjoy your homecoming dance.” 

.oOo.

A weekend is plenty enough time for some of the swelling to fade. It certainly has been a smoother process than her nose job. She isn’t sure that she likes the look of fuller lips, though. By all means, it doesn’t look gross or ungodly, but she feels as though her natural lips had suited her more. 

Even still, father assures her that this is an improvement and that she just isn’t used to the look yet. She isn’t so sure of that and constantly finds herself thankful that lip injections have the permanence of bright blue hair dye. If she wants to keep her fuller lips then she will have to keep going in. She has no doubt that Ozai would be more than happy to fund that. She doesn’t think that she will be taking advantage of it. 

Azula grabs her over the shoulder bag, a designer accessory, red in color and embroidered with a golden dragon. She tugs at a zipper that is just as needlessly opulent; also made of gold and accented with a garnet. She double checks to make sure that she has all of her textbooks and completed homework assignments  in order. 

She takes one last look in the mirror at a face that is hers but at the same time very foreign. She adjusts her lily pendant and runs a comb through her hair for a final time and the doorbell rings. 

“He had you get another one?” Mai asks. 

The Kasia chauffeur holds the door open. Mai climbs into the car first followed by TyLee and then Azula. 

“He has two more planned.” 

“Do you even want to get all of these operations?” TyLee asks.

Azula thinks for a moment. “Yes. I think that they will serve me well in the long run.” She doesn’t mention that they make her feel like a fraud. Like a deceiver. She wishes that she were a natural beauty like the dainty Yue. “I just hope that Yue can keep her mouth shut for once.” 

Mai sniffs, “you’re asking for a lot. Honestly, I don’t even know why we talk to her.” 

“She knows the best places to shop!” TyLee exclaims. “And her mom has the best cosmetic line. She’s nice sometimes…”

“I guess.” Mai shrugs. 

“Oh! I almost forgot!” TyLee rummages through her backpack. “I was stuck on question six.” 

Azula takes the worksheet, “geez, you couldn’t have asked me last night? We’re in the parking lot already.”

“I could have waited until we were sitting in lit class.” 

Mai rolls her eyes. 

.oOo.

She can’t help but wonder if anyone else has noticed the fullness of her lips. If they have no one has commented. She had expected more hushed whispers, but perhaps she hasn’t made changes profound enough to catch the eye of anyone she didn’t know well. 

It is a relief. 

“Does it hurt?” Chan asks, gesturing to her face with his spork. 

“Not terribly.” Azula replies. She can’t gauge how he feels. “It’s a little uncomfortable.”

“I can imagine, your lips are puffy as hell. Isn’t it hard to eat?”

She finds herself shifting awkwardly at the attention placed on the swelling. “As long as I don’t open my mouth too wide, I’m fine. It’s not as bad as it was yesterday.” Azula shrugs.

“You talk to TyLee yet?”

“Briefly.” 

“And?”

“I said that Azula should go for it!” TyLee declares. “I’m really, really excited to see her dress. She always has such beautiful dresses.”

“Then who are you going to take to the dance?” Azula asks. 

“Well I was hoping that Chan could set me up with Ruon Jian.” 

“Trust me, he won’t have any objections.” Chan snickers. “I’ll let him know that he has a homecoming date.” 

Azula listens as the conversation carries itself out, paying special attention to how she eats. She is relieved to know that Yue didn’t make an appearance. She doesn’t feel like listening to the girl make remarks about the ‘gross swelling’. 

The bell rings and she gathers her belongings, throwing out what remains of her lunch. “I’ll see the two of you in lit tomorrow.” She waves Mai and TyLee off. “And the two of you in gym.” She says to Chan and Jet. 

“See you around.” Jet gives a two finger salute. 

Azula turns to leave.

“I know that you’re not used to having a boyfriend so I’ll give you some tip.” A smug and mischievous smirk plays across Chan’s face.

“Oh, will you?” Azula quirks a brow. 

He nods, “you see, may couples will kiss each other goodbye.” He leans in and the playful mood is chased out by nerves. 

Azula pulls away, “I-I don’t think that that’s a good idea right now. I just got…” she motions to her lips. 

“Right…” she hears the disappointment in his voice and chides herself for backing out. Why does she have such a hard time letting affection in? He stuffs his hands into his pockets and mutters, “I guess I’ll see you around.” 

“Wait.” Azula grabs his arm. She points at her cheek. 

Chan gives a slight laugh, “I guess that’ll work.” His lips grace her cheek for a fleeting moment. “I’ll see you in gym class.” 

She has had her first kiss, sort of, she should be elated. She doesn’t know why she feels nothing but awkwardness and discomfort. She wonders if that is how a first relationship is supposed to feel. Deep down she knows that it isn’t. 

.oOo.

Five hours after school ends and she is still thinking about it. As the Kasai family chauffeur drives her back to Agni High for astronomy club, she fixes her stare out the window. She thinks that she should have let him kiss her lightly on the lips. She has only been with him for a day and she has already let the boy down. She sighs and tries to tell herself that she just has to get used to being in a relationship. When she does, it will be better for her in the long run.

There are a lot of things that she just has to get used to.  

A lot of things that will serve her well in the grand scheme of things. 

She touches her fingers to her lips.

The chauffeur holds the door open for her “I will be back to pick you up at 8:00, Ms. Kasai.” 

She offers a single nod and makes her way to the gaggle of students clustered around three telescopes. Azula has brought her own but decides that she won’t make a scene of herself so early in the year. Instead she finds a spot and within the small circle and waits for Pathik to announce what they will be looking for. 

“Partner up.” The principal says. “There are ten of you here today so that should be easy.”

Easy, she thinks sarcastically to herself. She never has an easy time finding a partner when her usual circle isn’t around. 

“I guess that we’re stuck together.” Katara remarks. 

Momentarily she thinks off going solo. “I guess we are.”

 “We have three telescopes so two groups will have to wait.” Pathik points out. Perhaps she will whip out her own telescope afterall.  But she isn’t fond of the idea of having to share her things with her rival’s sister. She folds her arms over her chest and waits for one of the first partners to observe the moon and pass the telescope over. 

“You got another surgery, did you?” 

“That’s none of your business.”

“Cosmetic surgery isn’t exactly private, everyone can tell.”

Azula flinches.

“I just don’t get it.”

“Don’t get what?” 

“Why you would want it? I never understood why people would want to change their face like that.” She pauses. “Why do you, of all people in this school, want plastic surgery?”

She isn’t about to let the class nerd and teacher’s pet know that she, in some metaphorical sense, is itching and writhing in her own skin. That she has surrounded herself with friends who can pass as emerging models. She feels less obligated to do so, with the girl sounding so condescending matter. “Of course you don’t understand, you’re very content being...homely.”

“Homely.” Katara replies flatly. “Thanks. Just because I don’t cake on makeup...you know what, nevermind. I might be ‘plain’, but I like my face the way it is.” 

Azula folds her arms.

She can’t help but feel a prickle of envy. 

Envy at her confidence. 

And envy at, despite her words, Katara is also more naturally beautiful. She has the same soft features as Azula; a rounder nose and chin and softer cheeks. But, coupled with fuller lips and big, bright eyes, they work for her in a way that doesn’t work for Azula. 

She realizes that Katara is still taking. “What was that?”

“I said it’s our turn to use the telescope.”

“Before that.” 

“I said that you don’t need it. The surgery.” 

A lump forms itself in her throat and she swallows it. Just when she had been growing to like the surgeries and the favors they are doing her. She resents the dork for bringing her doubts to the surface once more. 

She almost asks why Katara if she likes the way she looks currently. Some deeply rooted yearning for praise. Instead she responds,  “what I do with my face is none of your concern.”

[waywardrose13]

The Hunter Diaries- The Final Chapter

Series Masterlist // Rose’s Masterlist

Summary: Sam and Dean Winchester had been your best friends for as long as you could remember. Being Bobby Singer’s adoptive daughter, it was sort of inevitable to know the brothers. You knew you’ve had a crush on the elder brother for a long time, but you always thought nothing would happen between the two of you. You’re not the picture perfect model and you aren’t the image every girl strives to be. But maybe, just maybe, you were wrong, and he’d like you too.

This is a story of love, death and demons. A story about a girl who fell in love and hopes to survive long enough to act on it.

Pairing: Dean x Plus Size!Reader

Warnings: Language, character death, lewd comment, blood, angst, Aamon

A/N- I can’t believe we’ve made it to the final chapter. I love this series and I’ve had a blast writing it but I wouldn’t have got this far if it wasn’t for you guys. Your kind words and encouragement helped me through my writer’s block and kept myself from deleting the series. Again, thank you so much. I love you guys and I hope you’ve enjoyed the series and I hope you enjoy this chapter... Although you most likely will not.

ALL TAG LISTS ARE OPEN

I HAVE NOT GIVEN PERMISSION FOR MY FICS TO BE REPOSTED TO ANY OTHER ACCOUNT OR PAGE. IF YOU SEE MY WORK ON ANOTHER SITE OR ON HERE UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. REBLOGS ARE OKAY, REPOSTS ARE NOT. THANK YOU.

“I still don’t understand,” You said. You were stalling, asking questions to keep him occupied. He mixed a few ingredients inside a bowl, measuring everything precisely before dumping it inside. “How do I have angel grace? My biological parents were human.”  

Aamon glanced up at you, ignoring your question and walking over to you. He reached over and plucked a hair from your head, inspecting it and walking back over to his bowl, dropping it in.

“An angel had injected their grace inside of you when you were a baby,” Aamon said. “He had done it to hide his grace. It was traceable, you see. He had disobeyed heaven, hiding it into an infant- you. It’s dormant and deep, but the angels found you nonetheless. Of course, the angel who the grace belonged to was smart. You were a baby, a newborn life that the angels wouldn’t take. But they had trouble extracting the grace within you and they left some.”

“The angel who gave it to me… He’s dead?” You asked.

“Oh yes,” Aamon said. “He died long ago. An angel blade through the heart. And when he died, the angels had done their job, leaving you with a residual grace that they didn’t bother cleaning up.” He sighed, his crystal blue eyes scanning the large, leather bound book atop the table in front of him. He walked over to you again, a knife now in his hand. Panic swelled in your chest at the sight but he slice himself, using his fingers to draw intricate symbols in a circle around you.

You twisted your hands in the cuffs, trying to see if there was any leeway. But there wasn’t. The metal dug into your skin painfully and red welts soon showed up on your delicate skin.

You knew there was no getting out of this. Aamon had searched for you for so long, trying desperately to get you in his grasp. Yet each time through the years, you had slipped away, your life almost in his ashen hands, but you always managed to get away at the last second, leaving him back at square one. But then he had found you again. After murdering Carter in cold blood, he knew you’d be sloppy. And you were. You had forgotten one of your hex bags one day. One you always had in your back pocket. But you had washed your jeans, being too caught up in Carter’s death to remember to put it back in your pocket. And with that tiny sliver in your warding, Aamon was able to peek through, capturing a glimpse of where you were located.

But it had always ended up that way.

Andrew Graten was your first boyfriend and your first everything. He had loved you with every inch he had and that’s what got him killed. Aamon had found him one night, gutting him after he demanded he told him where you were. But Andrew refused, and Aamon had left your boyfriend’s house covered in crimson.

Your parents were killed when you were ten. You were at school when Aamon showed up. Your father had quickly sent one of his old friends, Bobby, a message, telling him something was going down and to take care of you, that Aamon had finally found them. The hybrid drank your parents dry and waited for your arrival. One that never came, since Bobby went and got you from your elementary school.

Aamon had always been right on your tail. And everyone around you had died. Their blood was on your hands and you never forgave yourself for any of their deaths. Which is why you so easily gave into Aamon’s deal. You couldn’t allow another person to be murdered because of you.

But honestly, you were also tired. You spent your whole life running and you didn’t want to do it anymore. You wanted it to be over. Of course, you’d rather it be Aamon’s life that ended, but if it meant the people you loved were going to be safe and you wouldn’t have to run anymore, you were content with your life ending, for there was time you may have done it yourself.

Aamon snapped you out of your thoughts as he grabbed a fistful of your hair, yanking your head back so you could look at him. He smiled down at you, his fangs poking through his gums.

“I want to thank you. It’s because of you that we’ll be one step closer to rising our king and allowing my powers to be brought to full potential. It’s because of you that I’ll be one of the most powerful creatures to walk the planet.” He kissed your forehead, making you cringe in disgust.

You spit in his face when he pulled back.

He released your hair, your scalp aching, and he made his way over to the table. “It’s time, love.”

He looked up into the skylight, the moon directly above you now, its silvery light casting an eerie glow into the dim room. He licked his finger and turned the page of his book, the old paper crinkling at the movement, and he began to read.

“Locutus sum ergo ad caelum et infernum. Da lunae patiuntur lumine solis calore mihi,” His voice bounced off the cobblestone walls, echoing in your ears. You struggled against your bindings, knowing it was no use.

“Non est me. Im 'potestate. Demones inferni, angelis caeli.”

Your heart began to race as sweat began to bead on the back of your neck. You whined a bit as you struggled, the feeling of utter defeat sinking down into the pit of your stomach.

“Victimae meae tibi placere posse adduci patiar.”

Your head began to feel fuzzy as the symbols began to glow.

“Et sanguis te, et tu de sanguine ego dabo vobis pro me-”

Aamon snapped his head over to the door as it suddenly burst open. His blue eyes flickered to their burning orange color as he snarled, baring his fangs to the intruders.

Sam and Bobby stared horrified at the sight of them, while Dean’s eyes were on you; staring vacantly with milky eyes, blood seeping from the corner of your mouth, glowing symbols surrounding you.

“You fools!” Aamon growled.

“Sorry to rain on your parade, freak,” Dean hissed. “But I’d prefer my girlfriend alive. I’m sure you understand.”

“Oh yes,” Aamon spit. “I understand. But I’m afraid I can’t deliver.”

Sam charged then, the blade of Ruby’s knife gleaming in the moonlight. He slashed at Aamon, who dodged the attack gracefully. The knife wouldn’t do any good of course, but it would distract the hybrid from Dean rescuing you.

Meanwhile, Bobby worked on breaking the symbols. He grabbed his own knife, scratching through the blood, breaking the circle, the glow dying down to nothing. Your eyes returned to their normal E/C color and you slumped in your chair with a groan.

“Hey, baby,” Dean said, cupping your face. The spell had exhausted you, the draining of your life force taking a toll on you. “I’m going to get you out of here.”

“No, Dean,” You croaked as he picked the locks on the cuffs. He ignored you, cutting the ropes off your legs before pressing a quick kiss to your lips and helping you out of the chair, ready to get you out of there.

But he didn’t make it far.

Aamon grasped onto the collar of his jacket, yanking him back and throwing Dean behind him. You stumbled backwards, holding your hands out in front of you. Your eyelids were droopy and you struggled to even stay awake, but you continued to fight, knowing you had to. For Dean.

Dean rushed Aamon, sending them both to the ground. The hybrid snarled and snapped at the older Winchester, his fangs grazing your boyfriend’s neck, a cut appearing on his skin.

Aamon laughed maniacally, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room.

“You taste delicious, Deano,” Aamon said. He looked over at you, his orange eyes flames in the low light of the room, a smirk tugging at his blood tainted lips. “Taste almost as good as your girlfriend. Tell me, is her blood as sweet as her cunt? I haven’t gotten the chance find out for myself yet.”

Dean brought his fist back, rearing it into the Hybrid’s face. He did that again, and again, and again, his fist soon becoming bloody and bruised.

Aamon laughed, blood seeping through his teeth. “I see why she likes you so much, Dean,” He said. “You’ve got bite. Unfortunately, it seems you don’t have much brain. Fugere dorsum!”

Dean was suddenly shot through the air like a bullet from a pistol, his back slamming into the cobblestone wall. Aamon looked at Bobby and Sam, doing the same thing until they were pinned against the wall, thrashing against the invisible hold. He bent down, using his blood to re-apply the symbols, the glow reappearing, as did the sickening smile on his lips.

You swayed on your feet, a wave of dizziness crashing over you like waves on rocks, and Aamon swiftly reached out and grabbed ahold of you, pulling you tightly against his chest.

“Well boys, I suppose we’re going to have to do this the fast way,” Aamon said. He moved your head to the side, exposing your neck, the bite he gave you earlier scabbing over. He briskly sunk his teeth into the wound, your eyes squeezing shut at the searing pain it brought. You cried out, tears pricking your eyes as he drank deeply.

“You son of a bitch!” Dean roared. Aamon’s fangs retracted and he lapped at the wound. He smiled up at the men, licking his lips clean of your blood.

“Don’t talk about my mother like that, boy,” Aamon said mockingly. Your limbs felt like led hanging from your body. You were tired and quickly fading and you knew the end was close. You brought your eyes up to meet Dean’s, his green eyes full of agony.

“Now, where were we?” Aamon whispered into your ear. “Oh yes, the spell. We’re so close to the end, love. Just a little longer.”

“No!” Dean growled. Aamon smiled up at him before finishing the spell, your fear so profound, you felt physical pain in your chest. You watched Dean’s eyes well up with tears, knowing this was the end.

“Pro inferno; Nam ego do tibi. Iam tecum est sacrificiorum pertinentes. Potestas mea!” The symbols grew brighter and a burning pain split through your head, ripping a scream from your throat. Aamon laughed, his face lit up with absolute joy as the thought of finally being whole sunk into his heart.

He reached behind him, retrieving the long, golden knife from the sheath attached to his belt. He gave a few kitten licks to your neck as the pain in your head began to die down, leaving you gasping and with tears streaming down your cheeks.

Dean watched panic stricken as Aamon brought the tip of the blade to rest at your back. Tears flowed down his cheeks and he knew this was it. The woman he loved was going to die, and no matter how hard he fought, he couldn’t save her. His emerald eyes, the eyes you had fallen so in love with, locked with yours and you found tranquility in them, your fear fading away as you kept your gaze on the man you had fallen for all those years ago.

“I love you,” Dean croaked. His tears flowed like rivers down his cheeks. You let out a shaky breath, your own tears dripping down onto the stone floor beneath you. Your heart began to shatter at the look he gave you, knowing this was the last time you’d see the man you loved again. So giving him a small smile, you allowed the fear and haunting thoughts to drift away from your mind, finding solace in Dean Winchester’s eyes.

“I know,” You said. Your last words cut through Dean like a hot rod, bringing him back to that first time you had told him you loved him. He watched as you gave him a small nod. And he watched as your lips curled into a tiny, reassuring smile. And then lastly, Dean watched in horror as Aamon brought his arm back, plunging the blade through your back and into your heart.

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[writerkimwilkes-blog]

Taking The Chill Out Of Raynaud’s Disease

By Kimberly Wilkes

Raynaud's (pronounced ray-nodes) isn't a disease you hear about very often. Yet, an estimated 28 million people in the U.S.—including 20 percent of all women in their childbearing years—have Raynaud's phenomenon, or Raynaud's syndrome as it's also called. What's more, four out of five people who have the disease suffer without getting medical help for the condition.1

What exactly is Raynaud's phenomenon, who is at risk and how can you reduce the symptoms naturally? Read on to find out.

The Big Chill

Named for a French physician Maurice Raynaud, who first identified the disease in 1862 while he was still a medical student, Raynaud's leaves anyone afflicted with the disorder extremely sensitive to cold temperatures.2 During a Raynaud's attack, smaller arteries that deliver blood to your fingers and toes—and in some cases other areas such as the nose, ears and tongue—narrow when exposed to cold temperatures or emotional stress.3These spasms in the blood vessels decrease circulation. Often, the skin turns white, then blue, then bright red. It's usually painful, too, and a Raynaud's episode also may include numbness, swelling or tingling. Holding a cold drink, reaching into the freezer, stepping into an air-conditioned room or going outside on a cold day all can trigger the attacks, which last anywhere from minutes to hours.  

If you have this disease, you can blame the pain and color changes in your skin on a malfunctioning autonomic nervous system. This part of the nervous system oversees bodily functions that you don't consciously control such as breathing, heartbeat and digestion. When the autonomic nervous system isn't working properly, it directs the blood vessels in affected areas such as the fingers and/or toes to constrict, starving those areas of blood supply. Blood delivers oxygen to tissues, so without the proper blood supply, tissues can undergo damage and in severe cases develop gangrene. Over the years, the small arteries feeding your hands, feet, nose and ears may thicken as they pay the price of the ongoing spasms. Not as much blood can flow through these thickened arteries.4

Who's At Risk?

There are two types of Raynaud's syndrome: primary and secondary. The most common form, primary Raynaud's is not associated with any other diseases. Secondary Raynaud's occurs along with other diseases, often autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Secondary Raynaud's is usually a more severe form of the disease than primary, has worse symptoms, is more likely to cause tissue damage, and is less likely to respond to treatment.5However, even the primary form can be disabling in some people.6The primary form also usually affects all fingers, whereas in the secondary form only some fingers might suffer from the vessel spasms.7

Risk factors for Raynaud's are different for each form. Women are more likely to develop primary Raynaud's compared to men. Primary Raynaud's also usually develops in people aged 15 to 30 years old, although it can arise at any age. If you live in a colder climate or have a history of the disease your risk also goes up.8

Having an autoimmune disease such as scleroderma, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis is a risk factor for secondary Raynaud's. Unlike primary Raynaud's, secondary most often develops at a more advanced age, usually around 40 years old. If you have a job where you operate tools or machinery that vibrate such as tipping hammers, jackhammers, chain saws and machinery such as tractors, power shovels and bulldozers you're at a greater risk of developing the secondary form of the disease.9Ditto for any activity you perform regularly at home that involves repetitive movements such as typing or playing the piano. People who have carpel tunnel syndrome also are more susceptible.4

In people older than 60, secondary Raynaud's syndrome is often caused by atherosclerosis obstructing the arteries.3 Other arterial disorders such as Buerger's disease, caused by inflammation of the blood vessels of the hands and feet, and pulmonary hypertension, which impacts the arteries of the lungs, are also associated with secondary Raynaud's.4

In addition, certain drugs are linked to secondary Raynaud's including the drug OROS-methylphenidate used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),10beta-blockers for high blood pressure, migraine medications containing ergotamine or sumatriptan, some chemotherapy drugs and over-the-counter cold medications that narrow blood vessels.4

Finally, other risk factors include smoking, which narrows blood vessels, hand or foot trauma including wrist fractures, surgery or frostbite, hemodialysis for kidney disease and exposure to certain chemicals such as vinyl chloride, a common environmental pollutant.4,11

The Homocysteine Connection

High levels of the amino acid homocysteine are linked to a number of health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes and osteoporosis. And now you can add Raynaud's to that list. Levels of this amino acid are typically high in both primary and secondary Raynaud's, even in teenage patients with the disease.12-17

Homocysteine injures the blood vessels in part by producing damaging free radicals, so researchers believe it could play a role in the development of Raynaud's. It also causes blood cells to clump together, interfering with circulation.18

Conventional Treatments

Simply dressing warmer during cold weather, and bundling up the feet and hands in warm socks and gloves is often enough for mild forms of Raynaud's. Conventional doctors will usually treat more severe cases by prescribing the class of blood pressure medications known as calcium channel blockers. These drugs act as vasodilators—in other words, they dilate the blood vessels. However, they can cause side effects such as rapid heartbeat, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, constipation and swelling in the feet and lower legs.19 Calcium channel blockers are also linked to lesions in the esophagus and gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD).20

Conventional doctors also may prescribe drugs like prazosin (Minipress®) and doxazosin (Cardura®), which belong to a class of blood pressure medications known as alpha-adrenergicblockers. These drugs help dilate the blood vessels by blocking the action of norepinephrine, a blood-vessel-constricting hormone. However, this class of drugs also has its own share of side effects such as nausea, dizziness, headache, heart palpitations and low blood pressure.7 Another class of blood-vessel-dilating drugs are called prostaglandins. But higher doses can cause headaches, flushing and nausea.7For skin ulcers, nitroglycerin cream is used topically on the base of the fingers. In some people, the cream can cause dizziness, flushing, slow heartbeat, chest pain and fainting.21

In some cases, doctors recommend surgery to remove the nerves around the blood vessels. But this surgery doesn't work for everybody.22  Doctors also may inject anesthetics or Botox into the hands or feet to block the activation of nerves in those areas. This comes with its own set of side effects including swelling or bruising at the injection site, headaches or flu-like symptoms and the possibility that the toxin in the medication may spread to other areas of the body leading to symptoms similar to botulism such as muscle weakness, trouble speaking or swallowing, difficulty breathing and inability to control the bladder.22,23

Natural Support for Raynaud's

If you prefer natural options, there are a number of ways you can improve your circulation and keep yourself warm. Here are some suggestions, based on research and what alternative and integrative doctors have found helpful in their practices.

Circulation-Boosting Socks

The first step is to keep your feet warm. Incredisocks are a special type of foot covering invented by a chiropractor. Incredisocks work as thermoregulators to increase or decrease temperature in the feet. They also improve blood flow, feeding the tissues with enhanced oxygen.24This not only results in greater comfort and reduced swelling in people who are concerned about circulation, it also results in healthier skin tone and color in oxygen-deprived areas.

Incredisocks are made with a blend of bamboo charcoal, used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve circulation, and germanium, which has a long history of use in Japan to support healthy blood flow. When this combination is heated by the body anions are released.  An anion is an ion with more negatively charged electrons than positively charged protons, resulting in a net negative charge. These anions increase blood flow and nourish tissues with oxygen—the same process that occurs when a physical therapist uses infrared on an injured knee or body part. Although infrared exposes injured areas to negative ions for only a short time, the circulation socks constantly bathe the feet in these beneficial anions for as long as the socks are worn.

The improved circulation that occurs after anions are generated results in more oxygen being supplied to local tissues. Combined with the increase in blood flow, this allows the body to regulate temperature much easier. Thermographic image testing comparing regular socks to Incredisocks shows that the maximum area temperature of feet not wearing Incredisock was 29.4 degrees while the maximum area temperature of feet wearing Incredisock was 32.6 degrees.25

Acupuncture

There's a mixed bag of research on whether or not acupuncture can help people with Raynaud's. But one study indicates it's something worth looking into to see if it works for you. The controlled, randomized study investigated the effects of acupuncture on patients with primary Raynaud's syndrome for 23 weeks in winter. Seventeen patients were given seven acupuncture treatments during weeks 10 and 11 of the study and compared to 16 controls. Throughout the study, subjects noted in a diary every day whether they had experienced an attack, how long the attack lasted and how severe it was. In the acupuncture-treated subjects, there was a significant drop in the number of attacks experienced per day. The patients undergoing acupuncture also experienced other improvements in their blood flow.26

The study authors concluded, "These findings suggest that traditional Chinese acupuncture is a reasonable alternative in treating patients with primary Raynaud'ssyndrome."

Control Your Stress

Relaxation techniques can help Raynaud's patients chill out in more ways than one. Stress can trigger Raynaud's attacks so it's a good idea to find ways to cope with stress. One option is biofeedback, a mind-body technique that shows you how to control your autonomic nervous system. One randomized study investigated biofeedback in patients who had secondary Raynaud's together with systemic sclerosis. Eight Raynaud's patients participated in biofeedback three times a week for four weeks and experienced reduced scores for disease severity.27

In one review of the medical literature, scientists concluded that thermal biofeedback is effective in reducing the severity and frequency of Raynaud's attacks. The scientists came to this conclusion after reviewing a number of studies, including three randomized controlled trials performed in independent laboratories.28

Basically, anything you can do to reduce or manage your stress, including meditation, not pushing yourself too hard at work or deep-breathing exercises can help keep the Raynaud's attacks at bay.

Hyperbaric Oxygen

In this type of therapy, patients inhale oxygen while in a chamber. Because the tissues of Raynaud's patients are starved of oxygen, it makes sense that a therapy that can boost oxygen levels may reduce symptoms.29,30In one study, researchers treated six women between the ages of 46 and 71 with two, two-hour daily sessions of hyperbaric oxygen for 10 to 14 days. The hyperbaric oxygen not only improved the Raynaud's symptoms—the improvement lasted for more than a month after the treatments ended.30 Alternative practitioners report good success using this type of therapy.

A Circulation-Boosting Botanical

If you want to use nutritional supplements to improve circulation, one of your best bets is Ginkgo biloba, which supports healthy blood flow. A couple of trials show it may help people who have Raynaud's. In one of those studies, even though Ginkgo wasn't as effective as a standard drug, when researchers gave Ginkgo to primary Raynaud's patients for eight weeks, 31 percent of the patients improved.31

In another study, researchers randomly assigned primary Raynaud's patients to receive either Ginkgo bilobaextract or a placebo for 10 weeks. Both before and during the study, the subjects recorded how often the attacks occurred, their severity and how long they lasted. Subjects taking the Ginkgo experienced significantly less attacks down from an average of 13.2 per week to 5.8 per week. There were 56 percent less attacks in ginkgo group and only 27 percent less in the placebo group.32

Homocysteine-Lowering Vitamins

As mentioned earlier in this article, high homocysteine levels are linked to Raynaud's. When your body is deficient in folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, it's not able to easily breakdown homocysteine, leading to high levels of this amino acid. People who have primary Raynaud's syndrome have lower levels of folate.13

To keep homocysteine from building up in the body, it's a good idea to take a good B-complex vitamin, ideally one that contains 5-MTHF, a more bioavailable form of the vitamin.

Help from the Sea

Fish oil protects the blood vessels of Raynaud's patients against low oxygen. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 32 patients with primary or secondary Raynaud's, researchers gave subjects every day either an olive oil placebo or 12 fish oil capsules, which contained a total of 3.96 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 2.64 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The researchers evaluated the effects of the fish oil at six, 12 and 17 weeks by measuring the systolic blood pressures and blood flow in the fingers of the subjects at room temperature and in cold water baths. The study authors also timed how long it took for the patients to have a Raynaud's attack after exposure to the cold water.

In the fish oil group, it took longer to have a Raynaud's attack. Prior to supplementing with the fish oil, it took about 31.3 minutes for the subjects to have an attack. After taking the fish oil for six weeks, that time increased to 46.5 minutes. Subjects with the primary form of the disease who took fish oil capsules had the largest increase in the amount of time to an attack compared to patients with the secondary form. In fact, five of 11 patients with primary Raynaud's who took the fish oil capsules no longer had Raynaud's attacks beginning at six or 12 weeks into the study compared to 1 of 9 patients in the olive oil group.33

According to the study authors, "We conclude that the ingestion of fish oil improves tolerance to cold exposure and delays the onset of vasospasm in patients with primary, but not secondary, Raynaud'sphenomenon."

New Use for the Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D is another nutrient no Raynaud's patient may want to do without. Researchers have found many Raynaud's patients suffer from vitamin D deficiency. What's more, supplementing with this vitamin may actually improve symptoms. A recent randomized, placebo-controlled study investigated the effects of giving Raynaud's patients 600,000 IU of vitamin D3 per month for two months in the winter. The researchers randomly divided 42 patients deficient in vitamin D into two groups. One group received the vitamin D, the other group received a placebo. The patients receiving the vitamin D3 experienced an increase in their vitamin D levels and an improvement in their Raynaud's symptoms.34

Adding to the evidence that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in Raynaud's is the finding that as many as 80 percent of people with systemic sclerosis are deficient in Vitamin D.35

Raising Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide is one of the chemicals in your body responsible for dilating blood vessels. However, in secondary Raynaud's, nitric oxide levels are low.7

When trying to boost nitric oxide levels, one good choice is the supplement L-arginine. A couple of medical journal articles have reported upon L-arginine's benefits in people who have secondary Raynaud's. One group of researchers reported uponfour cases in which  L-arginine supplementsimproved symptoms in patients with severe Raynaud's, including reversing the death of tissue.36

In another study, patients with secondary Raynaud's who also had systemic sclerosis, experienced several improvements after taking L-arginine including increased dilation of the blood vessels in their fingers and higher levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator, a protein that helps break down blood clots.37  

Boost Circulation, Warm Your Cold Hands and Feet

Improving blood flow and lowering emotional stress—or finding effective ways to cope with it—can reduce the number of Raynaud's attacks. Acupuncture, biofeedback and hyperbaric oxygen therapy may all help replenish oxygen-starved tissues while certain botanicals, vitamins and nutrients can give your blood vessels a helping hand.  

Originally published in Whole Health Insider.

References:

1. Raynaud's Association. www.raynauds.org

2. Bakst R, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Oct;59(4):633-53.

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